Stuffed toy apparatus with attached book

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a stuffed toy with an integral book. Generally, the stuffed toy includes a body portion with a pack portion for fixedly securing the book to the body portion and a means for keeping the pack portion closed, when desired. The stuffed toy and the integral book is preferably adapted for use by young children. However, both the stuffed toy and the book may be tailored so that the invention may be used by adults as a note pad, a photo album, or a small dryers type pad. In a further embodiment, the pack portion may be adapted as an enclosure portion for securing a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone or a personal digital assistant. Pockets or other securing means may also be provided to allow for the storage of pens, or other objects in the stuffed toy.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to toys, and moreparticularly to the combination of stuffed toys with reading materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Stuffed toys have existed throughout history. Their use islargely decorative, and they are primarily utilized for the amusementand entertainment for small children, with an educational valuegenerally limited to possible physical representations. U.S. Pat. No.5,951,358 discloses a stuffed animal with an attached book apparatusthat has a compartment in the chest area, as well as a storagecompartment in the back portion for additional reading material.Although the stuffed animal described includes provision for storingsubstantial amounts of reading material, the material is enclosed withinthe body of the stuffed toy and cannot be used while so contained, thusrequiring removal prior to its use. The removed reading material isunattached to the stuffed animal, and thus may be easily lost ormisplaced during use. This is a particular problem with toys designedfor use by children who, due to a low attention span, are likely tomisplace items such as the reading material.

[0003] In light of these shortcomings in the art, a need exists in theto provide a stuffed toy with an integral book. By fixedly securing thebook to the stuffed toy, the chance of loss of the reading material maybe minimized, since a child is more likely to know the particularwhereabouts of the stuffed toy than reading materials. It is furtherdesirable to retain the entertainment value as well as educational valueof both the stuffed toy and the reading material respectively.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a stuffed toy apparatus with anattached book, with the apparatus generally comprising a stuffed toyportion and a book portion securely attached to the stuffed toy portion,with the book portion including a cover portion hinged attached to thestuffed toy portion, the book portion and the stuffed toy portionfurther including a securing means, whereby the book portion may beswinger opened and closed, and whereby the closure means provides amechanism for optionally securing the book portion closed.

[0005] The stuffed toy portion is preferably formed as a stuffed animaland the cover of the book portion is preferably formed so that the bookportion appears as a backpack, including decorative straps for furthersecuring the book portion to the toy portion. Further, and stillpreferably, the pages of the book portion are formed of a substantiallyrigid, board-style material. Additionally, both or either of the coverof the book portion and the stuffed toy portion may include at least onepocket in order to allow items to be stored therein.

[0006] The closure means of the book portion may be any of a number ofmechanisms for securing the pages of the book to maintain closure.Examples of mechanisms for securing the pages of the book includebuttons, zippers, Velcro, snaps, and tie-strings.

[0007] The book portion of the present invention may also be adapted toinclude a variety of page types, including photo-holding pages, wherebythe stuffed toy apparatus may act as a photo album; sticky notes; memoforms; note paper; and dryers pages. Further, the stuffed toy apparatusmay include a writing instrument holder for securing a writinginstrument to the stuffed toy.

[0008] In alternative embodiment, the stuffed toy apparatus includes anenclosure portion adapted to hold and protect an electronic devicesecurely attached to the stuffed toy portion, with the enclosure portionincluding a cover portion hinged attached to the stuffed toy portion,and the enclosure portion and the stuffed toy portion further includinga securing means, whereby the enclosure portion may be swinger openedand closed, and whereby the closure means provides a mechanism foroptionally securing the enclosure portion closed. Examples of electronicdevices that may be used in conjunction with the stuffed toy apparatusof the present invention include cellular phones, personal digitalassistants, handheld computers, and handheld radios.

[0009] The features and advantages outlined in this summary will be mademore apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to theincluded drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a toy with an integral book inaccordance with the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy with an integral book inaccordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a side view of the toy with an integral book inaccordance with the present invention, illustrating the book portionopened; and

[0013]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the toy with an integral book inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present invention provides a stuffed toy having an integralbook or device attached and may be tailored to a variety ofapplications. The following description is presented to enable one ofordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and toincorporate it in the context of particular applications. Variousmodifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applicationswill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generalprinciples defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments.Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to theembodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistentwith the principles and novel features disclosed herein

[0015] The present invention provides a novel and useful toy and moreparticularly, a stuffed toy integrally incorporating a book or otherobject. A front view of an embodiment of the stuffed toy of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1. For illustrative clarity, the stuffed toyshown in FIG. 1 is in the shape of an animal. It is important to notethat, although shown in the shape of an animal, the stuffed toy can beany desired object and may vary widely while remaining within the scopeof the present invention. The stuffed toy shown to FIG. 1, includes abody portion 100 having paw portions 102, foot portions 104, and a headportion 106 attached thereto. In the a first embodiment, a book portionin the form of a pack portion 108 is secured both directly to the bodyportion 100 and by a pack strap portion 110. Note that, although shownin the form of a backpack-like structure, the book may take manypossible forms. The book is preferably comprised of at least oneboard-type page. Board-type pages are preferred to thin, flimsy pagesbecause they are more durable and more apt to stand up to abuse fromchildren. However, in other embodiments, it is contemplated that otherpage types may be incorporated with the stuffed toy, thereby protectingflimsy or board type pages. For example, the present invention need notbe limited specifically to children's toys. It may be tailored for theprovision other items, non-limiting examples of which may includethinner paper pages, sticky notes, memo forms, note paper, and dryerspages, and pictures.

[0016] A side view of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. As canbe seen in FIG. 2, the pack portion 108 is attached laterally to thebody portion 100. Additionally it can be seen that a book portion 112 isshown enclosed by the pack portion 108. The pack portion is composed ofa base portion 114, a strap flap portion 116, and a pocket portion 118.

[0017] A side view of the present invention with the pack portion 108open is shown in FIG. 3. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the pack portion 108opens hinged from the body portion 100. The book portion 112 iscomprised of individual page portions 120 attached at a spine portion122. Additionally, the cover portion 124 of the book portion 112attaches to the pack portion 108 via the pocket portion 118. The packportion 108 is secured in the closed position via the base portion 114,which attaches to the strap portion 116. This strap portion 116 may besecured to the pocket portion 118 through a strapping means 126,non-limiting examples of which include snaps, buttons or Velcro.Although the book portion 112 is shown attached to the pack portion 108via the pocket portion 118, other securing mechanisms are contemplatedsuch as by gluing, sewing, or otherwise fixedly attaching the bookportion 112 to the pack portion 108. Use of a pocket portion 118 as asecuring means is preferred, however, because different book portions112 may be interchanged.

[0018] A rear view of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. As canbe seen in FIG. 4, the pack portion 108 obscures the body portion 100.The strap portion 116 is shown attached affixed to the lower part of thepack portion 108. When the strap portion 116 is attached to the packportion, the book portion 112 is secured within the pack portion 108.

[0019] In addition to the above-described embodiments, pockets forstoring items may also be introduced into the body portion 100 or thepack portion 108 to allow items to be stored in the stuffed toy. Thepockets may include closure means, non-limiting examples of whichtypically include buttons, zippers, Velcro, and snaps. Furthermore, asmentioned above, the book portion of the stuffed toy may be adapted foruse as a photo album by the inclusion of at least one photo-holdingpage. Additionally, the stuffed toy apparatus may include a writinginstrument holder for securing a writing instrument to the stuffed toy.Incorporation of a writing instrument holder with the stuffed toy isparticularly desirable in cases where the pages of the book portion areitems such as sticky notes, memo forms, note paper, dryers pages, orphoto-holding pages.

[0020] As a further optional embodiment, the pack portion 108 of thestuffed toy may be adapted as an enclosure portion for securely holdingand protecting an electronic device, non-limiting examples of whichinclude a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a bandheldcomputer, or a handheld radio. The electronic device may be securedwithin the enclosure portion by means such as straps or pockets whichenable the user of the electronic device to access all necessaryfunctions thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book,the apparatus comprising; a. a stuffed toy portion; and b. a bookportion securely attached to the stuffed toy portion, with the bookportion including a cover portion hinged attached to the stuffed toyportion, the book portion and the stuffed toy portion further includinga securing means, whereby the book portion may be swinger opened andclosed, and whereby the closure means provides a mechanism foroptionally securing the book portion closed.
 2. A stuffed toy apparatuswith an attached book as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stuffed toyportion is in the form of a stuffed animal, and wherein the cover of thebook portion is formed such that the book portion appears as a backpackoptionally including straps.
 3. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attachedbook as set forth in claim 2, wherein the book portion includes at leastone board-style page or cover.
 4. A stuffed toy apparatus with anattached book as set forth in claim 1, wherein the closure means isselected from the group consisting of buttons, zippers, Velcro, snaps,and tie-strings.
 5. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as setforth in claim 1, wherein the book portion includes at least oneboard-style page or cover.
 6. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attachedbook as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stuffed toy portion furtherincludes at least one pocket, whereby items may be stored in the stuffedtoy.
 7. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the book portion includes at least one photo-holdingpage whereby the stuffed toy apparatus may act as a photo album.
 8. Astuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as set forth in claim 1,wherein the book portion includes a plurality of pages selected from thegroup consisting of sticky notes, memo forms, note paper, and dryerspages, and wherein the stuffed toy apparatus includes a writinginstrument holder for securing a writing instrument to the stuffed toy.9. A stuffed toy apparatus with an enclosure portion, the apparatuscomprising; a. a stuffed toy portion; and b. an enclosure portionadapted to hold and protect an electronic device securely or detachablyattached to the stuffed toy portion, with the enclosure portionincluding a cover portion hinged attached to the stuffed toy portion,the enclosure portion and the stuffed toy portion further including asecuring means, whereby the enclosure portion may be swinger opened andclosed, and whereby the closure means provides a mechanism foroptionally securing the enclosure portion closed.
 10. A stuffed toyapparatus with an attached enclosure portion as set forth in claim 9,wherein the enclosure portion is adapted to hold and protect anelectronic device selected from the group consisting of cellular phones,personal digital assistants, handheld computers, and handheld radios.